Soap suds or lather dispensing device



United States Patent [u] 3,5

[72] Inventor DenaldbLLa-be [56] References Cited 57! Parka. Ave., Birmingham, Mle llll UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,789 5/1956 Sutton.... 222/ I33 [2!] Appl. No. 780,667 [22] Filed D. a, 19 3,123,253 3/1964 Lamton 222/82 [45] Patented Nov. 17,1970 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Anorneyl-lauke, Gifi'ord and Patalidis ABSTRACT: A soap suds or lather dispensing device comprised of a container adapted to be connected to a water I [54] SOAP suns LATHE DmENslNG DEVICE supply and having an outlet, the container being filled with lo Dnwh' liquid soap and having a separate housing contained therin [52] U,s,Cl 222/133 defining a mixing and foam producing chamber connected [5]] Incl 367d 5/60,; to the liquid soap supply by means of a valve mechanism 867d 5/64- operable by manual actuation of a lever extending out of [50] l ieldolscarcll 222/133, the container to charge the chamber with a preselected 82; l37/lnql quantity of soap.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,625

Sheet 1 of 5 FIG-2 INVENTO R DONALD M. LAM BE BY 24; 24m v/iwwys Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,625

Sheet 2 INVENTOR A J ALD M. LAM 55 devices may havev industrial or household usefor attachment to a water line, faucet, showerhead, washing brush or the like,

FIG. 7 is an 'atl erperspectiveillustration of a different inv stallation arrangementofthe present novelsoap suds or lather so that water under pressure is allowed to flow through the dispenser when activated to mix with the soap in the dispenser to producesoapy water, soap suds, or lather.

2. Description Of The Prior Art Soap or suds dispensers of theabove kind are known in the I art and generally consistofIanrattachment to,be added to a water line or faucet, but these mostly require modifications in the plumbing or specialfittings' for attachment to a faucet, and generally use water pressure produced suction to draw soap into the water stream in an uncontrolled fashion. Further, in most cases, water is not effectively block ed'from entering the soap chamber, where it dilutes the soap. I

In addition, the'known devices are bulky and often of complicated structures, especially if it is desired to produce foam rather than only asoap-water mixture. In many instances, an intricate valvingarrangement and mechanically. driven agitators are employed'in order'toproduce the desired amount and I density of soap suds or lather.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior devices, the presentinvention provides'a novel soap suds or lather dispensing device of relatively simple construction which can be easily attached to any conventional industrial or domestic water outlet without modification to the; plumbing, and without requiring any' appreciable amount of space.

The novel soap suds or lather, dispensing device herein described comprises a container adaptedto befilled with soap and whichhas a waterinlct and a mixing chamberenclosed therein normally closed to the soap supply. A manually operable valve is 'provided to establish communication with the the housing section and is connected with the housing walls by' housingsectionsju and 14 form a chamber 28 adapted to be I filled with liquid soap after thehousing hasb'een assembled I plug 30 at the top of the housing water inlet to introduce a predetermined charge from the soap supplyinto the 'mixing chamber and to allow waterunder pressure to enter the rnixing chamber. The mixing chamber is provided with aerating means and a meshlike material which causes the soap and water liquid mixture to convert into suds or lather which then flows out of the. dispenser through an opening connected with themixing chamber. I

The inventionwill be better understood by referring to the following detailed description in connection with the appended drawing the invention.

B RlEF DEISCRIPTION or DRAWINGS FIG. 1, is a side elevation of the present novel lather dispensing device; I g

FIG. 2 'is' a cross section through the novel suds or lather dispensing device of FIG. I along'lin'e 2-2 thereof showing the mixing chamber arrangementg" I I v I FIG. 3 isanoth er crosssection through the novel dispensing device of FlG.. l along 'the' line tuating valve structure in an inactive position; i I

FIG. 3aI'is a view similarto FIG. 3 showingthe valve in activated positiom I I I FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section through dispensing device taken along line4-4 ofFIG.2; I 7

FIG. 4a is an enlarged partial cross section through the mixing chamber and soap injecting means;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view lof the present novel lather s which'illustrate the preferred embodiment of the novel dispenser; I I

FIG. 8 is still another different installation arrangementfor the present novel soap suds orlather'di'spenser. I

I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT ,With reference to FIGS. l5, the present'novel soap suds or lather dispensing device comprises a housing l0-which may be round or any other shape asdesired. A round housing is shown intthe drawings for illustrative 10 is preferably composed of a first cylindrical housing section 12 structure. The two cylindrical housing sections- 12 and, and

closure plates 16 and 18 are secured in their assembledpositions by means of bolts 20 or the like which extend throughthe closure plates. and through complimentary aligned bosses 22 on the internal wall surfaces of both cylindrical housing sections 12 and 14 as seen in FIG. 4. ,Suitable gaskets (not shown) will normally be placed between the adjoining surfaces of the housing sections 12 and 14 and closure plates 16 Y and l 8'to prevent leakage of liquid from the housing).

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical hOusing se/CtiOnS' I Z and l4 are each provided internally with mating integral boss portions 24 and 24:: extending from the lower inner surface of the housing walls transversely through the housing sections towards their axial center to form, in assembly, a unitary boss structure. The internal boss structure 24-2411 is substantially cylindrical around the axis center of enlarged portions 26 and 26u.respectively. The space between the internal boss structure 14-240 and the housing walls of'the through a removablexfiller s ectionl2 which is preferably provided with an air vent 31.

The cylindrical part of the internal boss structure 24-24:: is provided with a central axial bore 32 adapted to receive a cylindrical valve member 34 in the form of a shaft for rotation therein by means of a lever 36 formed integral with the valve member 34 and which extends out of the housing sectionyl4 through a flaredaperture 38 provided therein. The flared lever aperture 38 has a front side wall 40 and an opposite rear I fitting s S OandSZ (shown in FIG. 4) which 3-3, thereof,.showing the acside wall-4 2 positioned angularly thereto in order to limit the angularmovement of the lever 36 to define an inactive position as in FIG. Sanda dispenser activating position as :in FIG. 3a. Thecylindrica'l valve member, 34 is axially, bored through to provide. a bore-which is adapted to be in communication at both ends, with'the'bores 46 and 48 respectively of pipe I are attached by any known means to the closure plates. 16. and 18 for connection 'of the dispenser to any conyentional water pipe' or water outlet as ill ustrated in FIGS. 6,- -8. Thus, in theinactive position'of the dispenser when attached to a water outlet, waterwill be permitted to flow unrestricted' from. theoutlet through thecentral bore 44 of the valve member and out of the dispenser.

For actuation. of thesuds or lather dispenser, the valve I member 34 is provided with a transversebore 54' extending.

from the axial valve bore'44 to the surface of the valve member and which is adapted in activated'position of the dispensing device similar to FIGJ I showing'the other side of I valve as in FIG. 3 a to be in communication with a radial channel 56 through a passage 57 provided within thecylindrical boss portion 24- 24aaround thecentral bore 32. With particular referenceito FIG. 2, which shows the valve member 34in an activated position, the radial channel 56 is connected within the housing section 12 through a passage'58 with a mixperspective illustration of a further I purposes. The housing and a secondcylindrical housing section 14 which are I open-ended and have mating circumferential:wallsurfacesto ing chamber 60 7 provided ing-the enlarged boss portion 26 which is closed to the outside by a screw plug 62 provided with a seal 64. Contained at the other end'of the mixing chamber 60 and suitably secured therein is an assembly of porous or meshlike material 66 through which the mixing chamber 60 is connected to the outlet 68 extending through the boss portion 26 out of the housing section 12. A plurality of air induction vents 70 (FIGS. 2 and are provided through the boss portion 26 to connect the mixing chamber with the atmosphere for a purpose to be explained. As thus far described, if the valve member 34 is rotated into the position shown in FIG. 2, water from the water outlet to which the dispenser is being attached will be diverted from the unrestricted flow through the valve bore 44 into the transverse bore 54 and from there into the radial channel 56. The water, being under pressure, will then be expelled through the passage 58 into the mixing chamber.60 from which it travels through the mesh assembly 66 out of the housing outlet 68. i

In order to produce soap suds or lather, the housing section 14 of the dispenser 10 is provided with the following arrangement activated .by the valve lever 36: With particular reference to FIGS. 3, 3a and 6, the valve lever 36 at oneside and within the housing section 14 is in sliding engagement with a rod 72 within the lever aperture 38 which is part of a plunger 74 slidably arranged within a cylindrical'plunger chamber 76 within the enlarged boss portion 26a of the internal boss structure 24a in the housing section 14. The cylindrical plunger chamber 76 is closed to the outside by a screw plug 78 which is sealed as at 80. A spring 82 between the plunger 74 and screw plug 78 tends to bias the plunger outwardly away from the screw plug thereby exerting force on the lever 36 to return and maintain the lever 36 in the normal inactive position as shown in FIG. 3. The plunger chamber 76 is in normally open communication with the soap containing pelled through the outlet 68. Instead of the provision of vents 70, air can be received directly through the outlet 68. It will be seen that the amount of water and liquid soap being expelled into the mixing chamber 60 can be metered as desired by the amount of movement of the valve lever 36 from the inactive position in FIG. 3 to themaximum active position in FIG. 3a. Any intermediate position of the valve lever 36 permits a less than maximum metered amount of water and liquid soap to enter the mixing chamber 60.

Release of the lever 36 causes expansion of the spring 82 in the plunger chamber 76 forcing the plunger outwardly and thus returning the valve lever 36 to its inactive position as in FIG. 3. By return of the valve lever, the valve member 34 is rotated in reverse direction to move the transverse bore 54 away from the radial channel opening 57 thus stopping the water supply for the mixing chamber by blocking theradial channel 56. At the same time, as the pressure in the plunger chamber 76 is being reduced, the one-way valve 90 closes the aperture 88 to prevent water, still remaining in the mixing chamber 60, from entering the plunger chamber 76 and to I prevent any leakage of soap through the opening 88. Upon chamber 28 by means of an aperture 84 through the wall 86 of the plunger. chamber by which this chamber is constantly supplied with liquid soap from chamber 28. The plunger chamber 76 has another aperture 88 which is spaced and angularly offset from the first aperture 84 towards the rear of the chamber; Aperture 88 is adapted to establish communication through a passage 89 with the mixing chamber 60 in the housing section 12 in assembled position of both housing sections and upon activation of the valve lever 36. As seen in FIG. 4a, the aperture 88 is normally closed by a one-way check valve 90 which, however, upon pressure applied by the plunger 74 opens to permit the injection of liquid soap from the plunger chamber 76 into the mixing chamber 60. The one-way check valve 90 prevents back flow of water from the mixing chamber into the soap containing plunger chamber 76.

1 In operation, and with the dispenser attached to a water outlet by fitting 50 or 52, water flows into the dispenser from theside where it is attached to the water outlet into the central bore 44 of the valve member 34. Upon rotation of the valve member by manipulation of the valve lever 36 from the inactive position asshown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 2 and 3a the flow of water will be diverted through the transverse bore 54 into the radial channel 56 and from there through the passage 58 into the mixing chamber 60. Simultaneously, as the water is being diverted to flow into the mixing chamber 60 the annular movement of the lever 36 causes movement of the plunger 74 into the plunger chamber 76 against the force of the spring 82 which will be compressed. Pressure within theplunger chamber 76 forces the liquid soap contained in the chamber through the aperture 88 thereby opening the one-way valve 90 to allow the liquid soap to pass and be injected under pressure into the mixing chamber 60 where the soap is then mixed with the water supplied from the radial channel 56. Movement of the plunger 74 into the chamber 76 causes immediate closure of the supply aperture 84 by the plunger to prevent any feedback of the soap into the soap chamber 28 and to provide only a predetermined quantity of soap for mixing. The water pressure in the mixing chamber 60 forces the water-soap mixture through the mesh complete return of the plunger 74, the supply aperture 84 will again be .opened to permit liquid soap from the soap chamber 28 to enter the plunger chamber 76.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, an auxiliary soap injection means is provided by an auxiliary plunger assembly 92 if it is desired to bypass the lather producing mixing chamber 60 to provide only a water-soap mixture through the central valve bore 44 from the water pipe to the water outlet without producing suds or lather, or to pass the soap-water mixture through a shower head to produce lather. The auxiliary plunger assembly 92 is contained within a cylinder 94 substantially contained within and preferably integral with the housing section 12. The cylinder 94 extends from the wall of the housing section 12 across the soap chamber 28 to the central cylindrical boss portion 24 to be preferably integral therewith as shown.'The-cylinder 94 has a through bore 96 which extends to the valve member 34 to be normally in communication with the transverse passage 54 of the valve member when the valve lever 36 is in its inactive position as in FIG. 3. The outer end of the cylinder bore 96 is closed by a screw plug 98 which hasa central aperture 100 to receive a plunger 102 that extends a distance out of the screw plug. The inner end of the plunger 102 is connected to a piston 104 adapted for movement within the bore 96 by depression of the plunger 102. The

' piston 104 is normally biased in an outward direction by a spring 106 which is supported within the bore 96 on a plate 108 retained against a shoulder 110 within the bore- 96. The plate 108 has a central valve opening 109 which is normally held closed within the cylinder. The space between the piston 104 and the plate 108 defines a spring chamber 112 which is normally in open communication with the soap chamber 28 by means of'an opening 114 in front of the piston l04to supply the spring chamber with liquid soap.

Thus, by depression of the plunger 102, the piston 104 is forced inwardly thereby closing the opening 114. The pressure created in the soap filled spring chamber 112 by inward movement of thepiston 104 causes the valve 109 to crack open to permit the injection of a charge of liquid soap into the water contained in the cylinder bore 96 to mix with the water for outflow through the central valve bore 44. Any amount of liquid soap can be injected into the water flow by pumping the the plunger 102.

V With reference to FIG. 6, the present novel dispenser is shown attached to a T-connector 116 of a water pipe 118 by means of its fitting 50. In this installation, the outlet of the other dispenser fitting 52 will be closed by a plug 120. Due to the water pressure in pipe 118 the water flows into the central valve bore 44. Whenthe valve. lever 36 is manipulated, water will be permitted to enter the mixing chamber 60 to mix with the soap therein to produce suds or lather which will be dispensed through the outlet 68 at' the bottom of the' dispenser, as described above.

In the arrangement in H6. 7, the dispenser is attached to a water outlet 122. The front fitting 52 receives a conventional shower head 124. if the water has been turned on, it will flow from the outlet 122 through the'dispenser by means of the central valve bore 44 and out through the shower head in a normal manner. If the auxiliary plunger 102 is depressed, an amount of liquid soap will be injected into the water flow in the manner above described to exit as a water-soap mixture through the shower head 124. if soap suds or lather are desired, the valve lever 36 is manipulated to produce suds or lather in the manner before described'and without interruption of the water flow through the shower head 124. Soap suds or lather can also be produced without turning the shower faucet on due to the residual water pressure in the water outlet 122. If warm or hot water is being used, the dispenser will be preheated and will produce warm soap suds or lather upon activation of the dispenser.

In the arrangement in FIG. 8, the dispenser is attached to a water pipe 126 and the front fitting 52 receives a faucet 128 having a valve handle 130. If the faucet 128 is opened by manipulation of the handle 130, water will flow unrestricted through the dispenser and out of the faucet. Either auxiliary plunger 102 or valve lever 36 may beactuated to expel a watersoap mixture through the faucet or to independently produce soap suds or lather as described. Here, likewise, if warm water is being used, the dispenser will be preheated to produce warm suds or lather.

In summary, the present novel soap suds or lather dispenser is of relatively small size and lightweight when made of aluminum. lts constructionand operation is substantially fool-' proof and needs little or no maintenance.

The construction is suchas to be easily attached to any conventional water outlet without any alteration to the plumbing.

5. In the soap suds or lather dispensing device claimed in claim 1,.said mixing chamber having an outlet for dispensing lather, and aerating and mixing means within said mixing chamber to'produce lather upon connection of said mixing chamber with said water outlet and injection of soap into said mixing chamber.

6. in the soap suds or lather dispensing device claimed in claim 1, said normally closed passage including a one-way valve in'the direction from said plunger chamber to said mixing chamber.

7. In the soap suds or lather dispensing device claimed in claim 1, means associated with said soap injection means to block said soap supply upon application of force to said plunger.

8. A soap suds or lather dispensing device comprising a housing having a water inlet for attachment to a water supply, a first chamber in said housing adapted to be filled with soap, a second chamber in said housing separate from said first chamber, a third chamber in said housing separate from said first and second chambers, means 'to connect said first chamber with said third chamber to supply said third chamber with soap, means to selectively connect said second chamber 1 with said water supply, normally closed valve means as- The present novel soap suds dispenser is powered by water sociated with said third chamber to establish communication between said third and said second chamber when opened, pressure means in said third chamber adapted to inject soap into said second chamber through said valve means upon selectively connecting said second chamber with said water supply to provide a soap and water mixture in said second chamber, means within said second chamber to agitate said soap and water mixture to produce lather and an outlet for said second chamber to expel said lather from said second chamber and out of said housing.

9. in the device as defined in claim 8, said means to selectively connect said second chamber with said water supply comprising a valve having a central bore communicating with said water inlet and said water outlet and an opening in said valve to connect said central bore'with said second chamber upon repositioning-of said valve.

10. ln-the device as defined in claim 9, said valve being confined centrally within said housing for rotation therein by means of a lever attached to said valve.

11. In the device as defined in claim 10, said lever being adapted upon rotation of said valve to simultaneously actuate said pressure means in said third chamber.

12. in the device as defined in claim 11, said pressure mean in said third chamber being a plunger connected to said lever and said normally closed valve means being pressure responsive to open under pressure applied by said plunger.

water outlet and comprising 'a mixing chamber anda soap injection means, a soap supply means in communication with said soap injection means, means to selectively connect said mixing chamber with said water outlet; said soap injection means comprising a chamber, a plunger in said chamber, a normally closed passage connecting said chamber with said mixing chamber; and means to apply force to said plunger to inject a charge of soap of a predeterminedamount into said mixing chamber through said normally closed passage when said mixing chamber is connected to said water outlet.

2. in the soap suds or lather producing device as claimed in claim 1, said means to selectively connect said mixing chamber with said water outlet comprising a valve having a first position blocking the flow of water through said water outlet and a second position connecting said water outlet with said mixing chamber to permit water to enter said mixing chamber.

3. In the soap suds or lather dispensing device asclaimed in claim 2, said valve being provided with a lever for actuation thereof.

4. In the soap suds or lather dispensing device as claimed in claim 3, said means to apply force to said plunger comprising the aforesaid lever.

13. in the device as defined in claim 12, said means to connect said first chamber with said third chamber being a nor-. mally open passage adapted to be closed upon advancement of said plunger within said third chamber. 1

14. in the device defined in claim 8, said means in said second chamber to agitate said soap and water mixture being a porous material, and aerating means within said second chamber to cooperate with said porous material to produce lather.

15. In the device defined in claim 14, said aerating means being air injection vents connecting said second chamber with the atmosphere.

16. The device defined in claim 8 further comprising, a

' fourth chamber separate from said first, second and third chambers and normally incomm'unication with said water supply, a partition plate in said fourth chamber defining a pressure responsive valve means, manually operable pressure means in said fourth chamber and means to supply said fourth chamber with soap from said first chamber between the space defined by said pressure means and said partition plate.

17. In the device as defined in claim 16, said pressure means being a plunger adapted to be depressed to eject said soap through said valve means into said water supply.

&

supply into said mixing chamber, pressure producing means adapted upon actuation to'open said passage, said pressure producing means cooperating with said water' under pressure to inject a quantity of soap into said mixing chamber when said water outlet is opened. 

